The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in
Girlguiding. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world
Guiding. The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarded to girls on completion of a number of badges, then via numerous stages to the highest award in the Guiding movement worldwide, and then on to its position as a Girlguiding award.
Award criteria
The Silver Fish is not earned, but given to those who are nominated and are considered worthy of the award. Recipients must be members of Girlguiding, have done outstanding service to Guiding in more than one capacity and made a contribution to world Guiding.[1] Ideally candidates should be at least 18 months from retirement and have held an appointment within 6 months of the nomination.[1]
History
The award of Silver Fish existed from the beginning of the Guiding movement. The choice of the silver fish was as a result of Lord Baden-Powell visiting Japan, where he learnt that when a son was born, parents would hang a small silver fish on their door, signifying the boy would be able to successfully 'swim upstream' through life's challenges. If a daughter was born, a tiny doll was used. This indicated a girl's sole aim was to raise a family. Lord Baden-Powell decided to make a Guide's highest honour a silver fish, to show that girls are just as capable of battling against the odds as boys.[2]
Award for Girl Guides
The award is mentioned in the November 1909 edition of the Boy Scout
Headquarters Gazette in "The Scheme for 'Girl Guides'". Here a girl must pass seventeen specified efficiency badges.[3] However, in Pamphlet A: Baden-Powell Girl Guides, a Suggestion for Character Training for Girls, also published in 1909, twenty efficiency badges were needed to obtain the Silver Fish.[4] This was later reduced to fifteen and, additionally, good all round work was required.[3]
Award for Girl Scouts of USA
Around the time of the foundation of the
Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, their handbook listed the Silver Fish as the highest honour in Girl Scouting. However, before anyone could earn it, the
Golden Eaglet was introduced.[5]
In October 1917, the award changed to being given for outstanding service to the movement. At this time, the design also changed from a
whiting with its tail in its mouth worn on a silver chain, to a swimming fish worn on a dark and light blue striped ribbon.
Olave Baden-Powell was presented with a gold Silver Fish in 1918, then the only one of its kind.[6] In 1995, her daughter
Betty Clay was presented with a gold Silver Fish in the form of a brooch. It continues to be awarded within UK GirlGuiding to this day.
Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. Also in 1920. One of the girls who showed up at
Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts. Instrumental in the establishment of
Lone Guides.[9]
Active in Guiding in both
Northern Rhodesia and England. Daughter of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. Like her mother she received the only other gold Silver Fish.
The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in
Girlguiding. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world
Guiding. The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarded to girls on completion of a number of badges, then via numerous stages to the highest award in the Guiding movement worldwide, and then on to its position as a Girlguiding award.
Award criteria
The Silver Fish is not earned, but given to those who are nominated and are considered worthy of the award. Recipients must be members of Girlguiding, have done outstanding service to Guiding in more than one capacity and made a contribution to world Guiding.[1] Ideally candidates should be at least 18 months from retirement and have held an appointment within 6 months of the nomination.[1]
History
The award of Silver Fish existed from the beginning of the Guiding movement. The choice of the silver fish was as a result of Lord Baden-Powell visiting Japan, where he learnt that when a son was born, parents would hang a small silver fish on their door, signifying the boy would be able to successfully 'swim upstream' through life's challenges. If a daughter was born, a tiny doll was used. This indicated a girl's sole aim was to raise a family. Lord Baden-Powell decided to make a Guide's highest honour a silver fish, to show that girls are just as capable of battling against the odds as boys.[2]
Award for Girl Guides
The award is mentioned in the November 1909 edition of the Boy Scout
Headquarters Gazette in "The Scheme for 'Girl Guides'". Here a girl must pass seventeen specified efficiency badges.[3] However, in Pamphlet A: Baden-Powell Girl Guides, a Suggestion for Character Training for Girls, also published in 1909, twenty efficiency badges were needed to obtain the Silver Fish.[4] This was later reduced to fifteen and, additionally, good all round work was required.[3]
Award for Girl Scouts of USA
Around the time of the foundation of the
Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, their handbook listed the Silver Fish as the highest honour in Girl Scouting. However, before anyone could earn it, the
Golden Eaglet was introduced.[5]
In October 1917, the award changed to being given for outstanding service to the movement. At this time, the design also changed from a
whiting with its tail in its mouth worn on a silver chain, to a swimming fish worn on a dark and light blue striped ribbon.
Olave Baden-Powell was presented with a gold Silver Fish in 1918, then the only one of its kind.[6] In 1995, her daughter
Betty Clay was presented with a gold Silver Fish in the form of a brooch. It continues to be awarded within UK GirlGuiding to this day.
Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. Also in 1920. One of the girls who showed up at
Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts. Instrumental in the establishment of
Lone Guides.[9]
Active in Guiding in both
Northern Rhodesia and England. Daughter of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. Like her mother she received the only other gold Silver Fish.